By almost any metric, Yemen’s internet access ranks among the worst in the region and the world. Connection speeds in Yemen are at the bottom of global rankings. In May 2023, Yemen had the slowest mobile data speeds in the world, with an average download speed of only 3.98 Mbps ukraine.wilsoncenter.org. This was even lower than other conflict-torn states like Syria and Libya (whose mobile speeds were 7–10 Mbps) and vastly behind neighboring Gulf countries – for example, Saudi Arabia’s mobile internet averaged about 95 Mbps, meaning Yemen’s was roughly 1/ twenty-fifth the speed of its neighbor’s ukraine.wilsoncenter.org. Fixed broadband speeds are also abysmal: as of early 2025, Yemen’s mean fixed download speed was around 10 Mbps (placing it about 145th out of 152 countries tested) worlddata.info. Many users experience far lower speeds (1–2 Mbps or less) on YemenNet’s congested DSL lines. Such speeds fall far below global averages (global average broadband download is over 75 Mbps, and mobile over 50 Mbps, according to Speedtest Global Index). In practical terms, this means that streaming video, online learning, or large downloads – common activities elsewhere – are often difficult or impossible in Yemen’s current networks.
In terms of internet freedom, Yemen is considered “Not Free” by international observers, on par with the most heavily censored online environments. The civil war has led to a sharp decline in online freedom. Freedom House and other rights groups report extensive censorship, surveillance, and self-censorship. Compared to regional peers, Yemen’s internet freedom is similar to countries like Syria or Iran where authorities aggressively filter content, and far worse than relatively open environments like Jordan or Morocco. Houthi-controlled Yemen in particular has seen escalating online repression– with website blocking, network shutdowns, and arrests of online critics article19.org article19.org. Even the government-controlled areas, while generally not blocking news sites, still lack strong protections for digital rights and can be prone to security-driven restrictions. On a global index, Yemen’s internet freedom would rank near the bottom, reflecting the combination of technical censorship and the dangers of expressing oneself online amid conflict. Journalists and activists face real risks: for instance, the mere act of circumventing censorship or posting criticism of authorities can lead to detention. Thus, Yemen stands out as a country where internet access (already scarce) is further constrained by political control – whereas in many other parts of the world, even those with low access rates, the censorship might not be as pervasive.
On accessibility, Yemen’s 17–27% internet penetration (varies by estimate/year) is not only the lowest in the Middle East, but also significantly below the global average (~65%) arabnews.com theglobaleconomy.com. It is comparable to some of the poorest or most unstable countries in the world. For example, Yemen’s internet use rate resembles that of sub-Saharan African countries with very low connectivity, while most Arab states have made progress in getting a majority of their population online. Regionally, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have near-universal internet access (over 90% of their populations online), and even Egypt and Iraq have around 50–70% internet penetration. Yemen’s level (~1 in 5 people online) is an outlier in the region. This reflects both the extreme infrastructure deficit and the impact of war on development. In terms of digital gender gap, although detailed data is scarce, Yemen likely has one of the widest gaps – female internet usage rates lag behind male rates more than in many Arab countries, due to cultural, educational, and economic barriers. Globally, Yemen’s situation is often cited as a worst-case scenario for connectivity: it combines very low access, very slow speeds, high costs, and heavy censorship. For instance, one 2020 study noted Yemen had the most expensive internet in the Arab world and the lowest speeds digitalinformationworld.com digitalinformationworld.com. Another report pointed out Yemen’s connectivity and ICT development index rank was at the bottom among surveyed nations washingtoninstitute.org.
In summary, when comparing Yemen’s internet to regional and global standards, the contrasts are stark: Yemen lags far behind in speed (nearly last globally), in freedom (a tightly controlled internet under dueling authorities, versus many countries with at least partly free internet), and in accessibility (most Yemenis simply aren’t online, whereas globally most people are connected). The ongoing conflict has largely frozen Yemen out of the worldwide improvements in digital infrastructure and inclusion. Until peace and significant investments arrive, Yemen will unfortunately remain an outlier where the benefits of the internet age are limited to a small segment of the population, under conditions that are among the most challenging on earth washingtoninstitute.org article19.org.
Read more at https://ts2.tech/en/internet-access-in-yemen-overview-and-key-aspects/
